Match Analysis Insider: CHV at COL | Analisis del Partido: CHV @ COL

Match Analysis Insider: CHV at COL | Analisis del Partido: CHV @ COL

In week 10 Chivas USA travel to the Rocky Mountains to play the Colorado Rapids in a Western Conference match scheduled to kick off at noon (PT) on Sunday. The Rapids are coming off a mid-week scoreless draw against the San Jose Earthquakes, while the Red-and-White are looking to get past a 4-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo last weekend.

The main goal for the Goats this week is to remain focused and finish the game with eleven players on the field, a task they haven’t been able to fulfill in three consecutive weeks. Starting goalkeeper Dan Kennedy returns from suspension this week, while his backup keeper Tim Melia will be serving his own suspension.

Both teams are trying to jump-start their season and still going through a learning process. First-year Head Coaches Wilmer Cabrera of Chivas USA and Pablo Mastroeni of the Rapids are having to deal with injuries to key players. The Red-and-White are missing four players who were starters for the club at the beginning of the season: Tony Lochhead, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Thomas McNamara and Mauro Rosales. Colorado will be without Brian Mullan and Vicente Sanchez, who will certainly be missed as he has netted six goals and collected four assists for the Rapids.

To help compensate for injuries and bring some added life to their respective squads, both clubs acquired new players this week. Chivas USA brought in Honduran international winger, Martin Chavez, as well as forward Ryan Finley, while Colorado acquired Gale Agbossoumonde from Toronto FC. It might be too early for these players to have a say in Sunday’s conference battle, but hopefully they will prove to be a good fit.

With all the roster changes due to injuries and new arrivals, the topic that rises is formations. So far this season, we have seen both teams experimenting with different shapes to try and find the best one to fit their team while counteracting their opponent. Many coaches will say they play a 4-3-3 system, but sometimes it looks like a 4-5-1. Others might employ a 4-4-2 formation, but one striker always will drop into the midfield to help defensively.

My point about formations is simple: no matter how many defenders you play with or how many midfielders you employ, it is always about each player’s specific job that a coach requires of them that will really tell what is happening on the field. Let’s take a look at Colorado’s Dillon Serna and Chris Klute. I anticipate Serna to come more inside where he feels more comfortable, allowing Klute to project himself into the attack. In addition, Jose Mari will probably sit more in front of the back four while the other midfielders attack.

Both teams have encountered issues in their attacking third, being unable to create and finish scoring chances. However, look for the movement of Gabriel Torres and Edson Buddle to cause some confusion for the Goats’ back line. Should Sanchez be fully recovered by Sunday, expect him to also add some flare to Colorado’s attack.

This weekend’s game should be an exciting one, with a lot at stake for both clubs, as they come out and battle in the altitude and the expected snow for the three points.